With acrobatic and graceful moves, the Georgian State Dance Company portrays its traditions through folk dancing.

The company will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Stephens Auditorium.

Nino Sukhishvili, manager and public relations consultant for the group, says the dances reflect the history of the region.

“All the dances, movements and costumes show the culture,” says Sukhishvili, who is also a granddaughter of the founder of the company. “Differences show the different districts.”

Nestled between Russia and Turkey, the nation of Georgia has a number of geographical climates and cultural influences. Each of these aspects reflects the style and way the company dances.

In the mountainous region the dances are stronger and more powerful, while on the shores, the dances are more quiet, tender and smooth, Sukhishvili says.

“The geography has different regions and each region has its style and costume,” she says.

Along with mountainous and seashore climates, the area has tropical, wooded and desert regions with a dance reflecting each of those climates.

Not only is the geographic location taken into dancing, but also occupations and events have become their own style. The show includes aspects of shepherds, hunters, religion and weddings, Sukhishvili says.

Many cultures have influenced the Georgian region since the Silk Road passed through it. The company’s movements and costumes also reflect Russian, other European and Oriental cultures.

“It was a crossroad,” Sukhishvili says, “but we also have authenticity and our own culture and movement.”

These include military dances that demonstrate the fighting techniques that were used to defend Georgia through history.

The company was started in 1945 by Iliko Sukhishvili and Nino Ramishvili.

“Her last name is synonymous with dance in Georgia,” says Marya Glur, tour manager for the company.

Glur says she is in awe about the dancers’ talent and ambition.

“The sustained energy is incredible,” she says. “They don’t let up.”

The program contains everything from sword fights to floating women, Glur says.

“Their style includes dancing on their toes, but without toe shoes,” she says. “They wrap their feet with tape, but as far as reinforcement from wood or steel as in other toe shoes, they don’t have that.”

Glur is impressed with their acrobatic style as well.

“They jump in the air and twirl and land on their knees,” she says. “It is really a feat for the eyes.”

The company wears traditional folk costumes, but they have been slightly altered.

“They have been transformed for this age to make them more spectacular,” Sukhishvili says.

The company is made up of 15 women and 35 men ranging in age from 18 to 35. A live orchestra also accompanies the group, with 12 musicians playing drums, flutes, harmonicas, basses and other traditional folk instruments.

Sukhishvili thinks the show will entertain and educate.

“People who know nothing about our country will after the performance,” she says. “It is like a tale about Georgia.”